NICE nod brings Lilly further obesity boost but timeline concerns

5 December 2024

US drugmaker Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) enjoyed a good day on the obesity front on Wednesday, with the news that its GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide - branded as Wegovy and Mounjaro - outscored its main rival from Novo Nordisk (NOVN: VX) in a Phase IIIb trial.

Thursday started in similar fashion for Lilly, with the announcement that the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published final draft guidance recommending tirzepatide to manage the condition, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, in adults with an initial body mass index (BMI) of at least 35 kg/m2, and at least one weight-related comorbidity.

However, NHS England requested a funding variation to extend the time needed to comply with NICE’s recommendations.

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